Iman Rauf and Ron Paul — bedfellows

Pamela Geller has uncovered an interview in which imam Feisal Rauf, the man behind the Ground Zero mosque, argues that “the United States has more Muslim blood on its hands than al Qaeda has on its hands of innocent non-Muslims.” Notice that in this quotation, Rauf uses the word “innocent” only in the part about non-Muslim blood. But I doubt he would have drawn the comparison unless he believed that the U.S. is culpable in something like the same way as al Qaeda for wrongful killing.
Indeed, the Muslim blood Rauf refers to is that of “innocents”; specifically Iraqi children he says died as a result of American sanctions. Rauf not only fails to mention that the sanctions were designed to undermine one of the most unjust and bloodthirsty regimes of modern times, he proceeds to take the U.S. to task for “its contribution to injustice in the Arab world.” By overlooking the injustice of Saddam Hussein, and failing to acknowledge our efforts against that tyrant, Rauf reveals himself to be an anti-American ideologue, an apologist for al Qaeda, and a charlatan.
But Rauf has a soulmate in Ron Paul. Paul believes that opposition to the Ground Zero Mosque has nothing to do with respect for hallowed ground or dismay over the radicalism of Rauf. Instead, he claims the opposition is “all about hate and Islamophobia.”
In fact, Paul shares Rauf’s radical view of 9/11 and his radical critique of America. Here is what Paul said:

If it became known that 9/11 resulted in part from a desire to retaliate against what many Muslims saw as American aggression and occupation, the need to demonize Islam would be difficult if not impossible.
There is no doubt that a small portion of radical, angry Islamists do want to kill us but the question remains, what exactly motivates this hatred?
If Islam is further discredited by making the building of the mosque the issue, then the false justification for our wars in the Middle East will continue to be acceptable.

Ironically, even as Paul’s hatred for “neo-conservatives” poured forth, he decried the “emotionalism” on both sides of the debate.
The debate has been emotional, and thus clarifying. Americans have learned something about those who lead and represent them. Not surprisingly, no politician has cast himself in a worse light than Ron Paul.
Via The Corner.
JOHN adds: Rauf’s views, as expressed in his 2005 lecture in Australia, are appalling in a number of ways. Among other things, he advocates a “one-state solution” for the problem of Israel. In other words, an end to the Jewish state and, before long, an end to the Jews. And our State Department pays to send him as an emissary to the Middle East!
Andy McCarthy has more on this point here.